Back to School By the Numbers

For parents, grandparents, teachers and students, Aug. 1 means thoughts start to turn to the return to school.

The annual Virginia back to school tax break takes place this weekend --- the harbinger that Fall and school days are looming.

Here's are numbers to know about back to school from the U.S. Census Bureau.

1. An estimated  $7.7 billion was "spent at family clothing stores in August 2011."

2. An estimated 79 million students ranging from nursery school to college were in classes in the U.S. in October 2010, the latest numbers from U.S. Census.

3. 56 percent of college undergraduate and graduate students were women in 2010.

4. Your parents are right: college equals money. "The median earnings of full-time, year-round workers with an advanced degree in 2009" was $74,000, says U.S. Census.

Median earnings with a high school diploma: $33,000.

Median earnings with no high school diploma: $25,000.

Source: U.S. Census